Steerable crank system

Abstract

A Steerable Crank System including a Steerer Base firmly connected to the chassis/mainframe of a machine, said Steerer Base containing and supporting Grooved Cog Wheel situated in-line and parallel to the power driving direction in a manner that allows said Grooved Cog Wheel to rotate around its axis and drive the machine power, said Steerer Base containing and supporting a Fork in a manner that allows said Fork to rotate around its main axis and by that rotation movement it controls the steering, said Fork containing a 2nd axis supporting and housing a Crank Shaft in a manner that allows said Crank Shaft to rotate around its own axis, on said Crank Shaft attached a Butterfly Connector, said Butterfly Connector coupling together said Crank Shaft and Grooved Cog Wheel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A Steerable Crank System comprising:
 a Steerer Base firmly connected to the chassis/mainframe of a vehicle; 
 
       said Steerer Base containing and supporting Grooved Cog Wheel situated in a manner that allows said Grooved Cog Wheel to rotate and propel the vehicle;
 said Steerer Base containing and supporting a Fork in a manner that allows said Fork to rotate and by that rotation movement, controls the steering; 
 said Fork containing and housing a Crank Shaft in a manner that allows said Crank Shaft to rotate; 
 on said Crank Shaft attached a Butterfly Connector, said Butterfly Connector coupling together said Crank Shaft and Grooved Cog Wheel; 
 on said Fork attached a Steerer Actuator Element; 
 a steerer actuator element acting as leverage for steering, said Steerer Actuator Element accommodates various geometries and pluralities of element such as an off-center lever or cog wheel or gear system or universal joint to execute the steering mechanism of said machine. 
 
     
     
       2. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 1 , whereas the implementation and incorporation of the system is within a Human Powered Vehicle with hand crank further comprising a two handles and arms mounted at said Crank Shaft extremities, said handles and arms grabbed by the rider and enable simultaneously propelling and steering said vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 2  further comprising a Cog Wheel Bushings, said Cog Wheel Bushings may be ball bearings or bushings, it can be made of plastic inserts or phosphor bronze inserts or likewise low friction high strength materials, said Cog Wheel Bushings firmly connected to said Steerer Base, said Cog Wheel Bushings support said Grooved Cog Wheel and allow said Grooved Cog Wheel to rotate around its axis. 
     
     
       4. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 3  further comprising a Shaft Bearing, said Shaft Bearing positioned at extremities of said Fork 2 nd  axis, said Shaft Bearing holds said Crank Shaft in place and allows it to rotate around its axis, said Shaft Bearing can be a standard BB bicycle bearing or likewise parts with left and right threads, said Shaft Bearing can contain a fixing element to prevent said Crank Shaft from moving along its axis. 
     
     
       5. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 4  further comprising a Headset Bearing, said Headset Bearing mounted on said Steerer Base, said Headset Bearing restrict said Fork to move only in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. 
     
     
       6. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 5  further comprising a mechanism of rod end and pushrod attached to said Steerer Actuator Element of a leverage type, said pushrod connected to a steering system of said Human Powered Vehicle to perform steering action. 
     
     
       7. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 5  further comprising a chain or belt or similar type of element connecting said Grooved Cog Wheel to said Human Powered Vehicle transmission system to perform driving action. 
     
     
       8. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 1 , whereas said Crank Shaft, Butterfly Connector and Grooved Cog Wheel, and combinations thereof, has various embodiments, especially designed and adapted to specific applications, whereas said Butterfly Connector and Grooved Cog Wheel has various pluralities of ‘Butterfly Wings’ or Teeth or Splines, acting as a positive coupling of surfaces and bodies, between Crank Shaft and Cog Wheel, Range and number of said wings/teeth can vary from a minimum of 1 wing, to a typical use of 6-8 wings but is not limited to higher numbers of wings/teeth. 
     
     
       9. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 1 , whereas said Crank Shaft, Butterfly Connector and Grooved Cog Wheel, and combinations thereof, has various embodiments, especially designed and adapted to specific applications, whereas Butterfly Wing/Tooth and Grooved Cog Wheel has various geometries acting as a positive coupling of surfaces and bodies, between Crank Shaft and Cog Wheel, Said geometry adapted per application to provide optimal power transfer, system reliability and stability, and system longevity and efficiency, Such Wing/Tooth geometries may be (but are not limited to) a Trapezoid geometry, a Spheroidal geometry, Cylindrical geometry, Conical geometry, or any other Wing/Tooth section geometry as may be advantageous in respect to load supporting, and minimal friction. 
     
     
       10. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 1 , whereas said Crank Shaft has various possible geometries, allowing adaptation to specific applications, whereas Crank Shaft is similar in length or shorter in proportion to diameter, thus effectively functioning as a Shaft/Bushing, said Shaft/Bushing has identical function as said longer Crank Shaft, but can be assembled on a separate additional smaller diameter Crank Shaft, such that the said Shaft/Bushing can be connected to smaller diameter Crank Shaft by various means. 
     
     
       11. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 10 , whereas said Shaft/Bushing allows the internal, smaller diameter Crank Shaft to move within the said Shaft/Bushing in an axial direction, thus effectively adding a 3 rd  dimensional freedom of movement. 
     
     
       12. The Steerable Crank System according to  claim 1 , whereas said Crank Shaft, Butterfly Connector and Grooved Cog Wheel, and combinations thereof, has various embodiments, especially designed and adapted to specific applications, whereas the geometrical connection between Butterfly Connector and Cog Wheel is such, that it prevents the Butterfly Connector separating from the Grooved Cog Wheel by means of a spheroidal physical under-cut geometry, as for example is manifested in a ball-joint, thus both parts are permanently connected or substantially permanently connected and secured after assembly, thus also negating the need for several fixing parts such as shaft collars etc., while at the same time optimizing contact area between the active parts, said specific geometry of the Butterfly Connector may be directly applied onto said Crank Shaft, or said Shaft/Bushing by means of direct crimping, or similar additive, subtractive or formative production methods.